A Prisoners swap deal to declare in days: Palestinian sources

The Hamas-led Palestinian government and President Mahmoud Abbas' office are very close to achieve a deal with the captors of an Israeli soldier to swap him for Palestinian prisoners, local Palestinian media reported on Wednesday.

Ramattan news agency said the agreement is almost ready and would be made public within days. An Egyptian security team played a key role to push for the agreement, Ramattan added.

The captors of Corporal Gilad Shalit demand the release of a number of Palestinian prisoners in exchange of the soldier who is held by three militant groups since June 25.

Meanwhile, sources close to the Hamas-led government said two Gaza-based Hamas officials arrived in Cairo to join their colleagues who arrived earlier from Damascus to talk with Egyptian officials over the soldier's issue.

Foreign Minster Mahmoud Zahar, lawmaker Mushier al-Masri and Hamas politburo member Emad al-Alami have ended their mission in Cairo after meeting with Egyptian Intelligence Chief Omar Suleiman, added the sources.

The sources also confirmed earlier reports that the deal will go beyond the prisoners swap and include Israeli measures aimed at lightening the economic and political crisis that increased as a result of the Israeli offensive.

Source: Xinhua